SOME truly eye-watering losses are being reported on grainfed cattle being slaughtered this month, reflecting the extremely high prices paid for feeder cattle towards the end of last year.
Grainfed supply chain managers say the losses are record-high for the Australian industry, with many grainfed descriptions $350-$500 in the red, and some as much as $1000 a head, on cattle bought as feeders, fed, and sold. In fact one contact insisted that some grainfed losses went beyond four figures, but he did not want to elaborate. That may simply be pub talk, but it’s hard to tell.
“The…
